INSTANT MBA: The Best Leaders Are Teachers

"I think the best leaders are teachers and they’re truly taking
the time to explain a balance sheet or a fuel hedging policy or
other things. You’re teaching. You’re not just doing and
communicating what you’re doing — you’re teaching people why
you’re doing it."

Barger was part of the team that founded JetBlue back in 1998, He
was promoted to CEO in 2007 after serving as COO for nine years.
He has spent nearly his entire career in the airline industry,
and had a prominent gig at Continental Airlines.

He also says that it's fine to be the consensus builder, but you
have to be comfortable in proclaiming that a decision has been
made. Teams can work on a project for hours and in the end have
nothing to show for it because the leader didn't put his or her
foot down.

"When it’s time to make a decision and your team’s not making the
decision, make the decision," says Barger.

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